Not Your Average Guide to Royal Oak Michigan

[@jenniferwoolley9871]

I’m going to have to try all of these restaurants now! Heading to arts beats & eats this weekend with the family! Always a good day spent in Royal Oak.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

There are so many great food choices in RO! It's hard to go wrong!

[@singingwithwolves]

Thank you for making these videos. I just moved to royal oak a year ago for work (I work in Detroit) and honestly chose the city as a last minute place to rent but instantly fell in love with this town.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@singingwithwolves it’s such a cool little town! I live at 13 & Rochester & own 3 other homes in RO. I’m here if I can help!

[@NickDrinks]

Nice coverage of my home city. Like the video style too. Well colored and composed.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! I worked hard on the Royal Oak video and was working in improving between that one and the previous city. I appreciate the comment and feedback!

[@OleGeezerCirca1941]

I enjoyed your video and comments. I grew up in RO living there from 1951 through 1965. Although the family moved there when I was 10 years old, I consider RO my hometown. In the course of over 70 years much has changed. I worked at the zoo the summers of 1959 & 1960 first in grounds maintenance (1959) and as an animal keeper (1960). Instead of almost $50 today for two admissions and parking, back then both were free. Also went camping in the woods where Beaumont hospital is now. I was a 1950's Woodward Avenue teen drag racer from the Big Boy at the north end, and the Totem Pole at the south. I could write several pages of comments, but it will suffice to say thank you for your work which was of interest to me. 😁

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you for the reply and talking about Royal Oak a bit. My father remembers the same about the zoo admission and took my mom on a date there a pretty long time ago. Are you still in South East Michigan? I'd love to hear some of the stories and history!

[@danadaniels3295]

What a great guide !!! Now I'm hungry and I want to go to the zoo :) thank you Michael Perna This is brilliant!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! Watching this again is making me hungry now too!

[@jessicamatthews9342]

We live in Royal Oak and absolutely love this city! Thank you for sharing some great spots.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you for the feedback and I LOVE living in Royal oak too! I’m working on a Royal Oak 2.0 video because I just couldn’t cover everything. Let me know anything I missed!

[@WendyPatton]

Amazing video and overview. I watched every second of it!!!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was so much fun to shoot. We'll be releasing a super fun zoo video soon as well!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you & more to come! Next city we’re shooting next week!

[@donaldclark9954]

What a great video about Royal Oak to get me excited to go as we head out the door to the Arts, Beats, and Eats today! The Comedy Castle is always a good time and I have a giant list of concerts that I've seen at the Royal Oak Music Theater over the years. Thanks for a great tour!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! I couldn’t get everything in I wanted, but I’m in the office now listening to a cover band outside my window. Not mad about the office being in the middle of it lol

[@user-bi2tk4ig6p]

Honestly this is one of if not the best video i have seen on a city period. Well done! I look forward to watching more of your content.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you Charles! I appreciate the feedback, this one I think I nailed a good format. We’ll be dropping our Novi video soon!

[@user-bi2tk4ig6p]

@@MichaelPernaTV looking forward to it

[@nadiaalsaadi4788]

This video made me feel like I really visited the place. I will definitely visit and start with coffee ☺️

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Yes! ALWAYS start with the coffee!

[@robertuceda5121]

Love it!! great presentation Michael. This is my birthplace. I was born in Royal Oak, Beaumont hospital and so glad to know I was born in a city with culture, best eateries, chicken and waffles, best brewed coffee, best sweet fried potatoes and amazing day time places of interest. Obviously I look Peruvian and nothing of the demographic over there but I'm sure there is a cool melting pot a bit. ahh the Detroit Zoo. Sounds like a place worth visiting on my bucket list!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! I also call Royal Oak home and THIS is the reason why I love making these videos! Royal Oak truly is a wonderful city and YES, make sure you visit the Detroit Zoo if you've never been. It's fantastic!

[@mikedandurand3548]

My hometown, of course it was very different in the 60s and 70s.

[@SC-gp7kt]

You're an official Foodie......I love it!! 💜🔥💜

[@MichaelPernaTV]

100%! And part of why I love living where I am, I’m right between Royal Oak and Birmingham, a stones throw to that BBQ place in Clawson, a short 5 light drive to Ferndale & 20 min to downtown. It doesn’t get better then that.

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV Yep, Michigan is a GREAT place to live of you're a foodie (both the U.P. and L.P.), especially Metro Detroit 💜🤚 I live in Warren and work in Southfield, but I drive all over the Metro area.

[@austinpothast5769]

the ice cream on your nose is hilarious lol

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thanks! Lol we kind of went by with it

[@daniellesnell7204]

What an amazing city!!!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Yes it is! I love living here!

[@toddhayes3506]

Great Job 👍professional

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you! We have a couple more cities on the way!

[@srtjay321]

I been in royal oak since 05-06 best city in my opinion!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I've been in Royal Oak for over 5 years myself. I don't know if it's my final destination, but it's been the best one so far!

[@srtjay321]

@@MichaelPernaTV before i came to royal oak i lived in oak park an Detroit so it’s the best I’ve been in so far!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@srtjay321 those are great cities too for their own reasons and on my list. Detroit especially Will take a lot to cover!

[@srtjay321]

@@MichaelPernaTV Detroit is amazing to explore!

[@SC-gp7kt]

You're doing it wrong.......the ice cream goes INTO the coffee!!! You're welcome! 💜🍦+☕💜

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Awesome point, and will do tomorrow when I’m at the office!

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV LOL 💜😎

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV I would recommend a flavor that goes well with coffee.....like vanilla, chocolate, caramel......lemme know how it turns out!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@SC-gp7kt 100% I think Carmel is the way tomorrow

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV Sounds yummy!

[@joechidiac3053]

Nice!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thanks!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I had an absolute blast diving into what makes Royal Oak special to me and I hope you enjoyed this video! Let me know your thoughts below and if you have a city to recommend that I do a video on!

[@biancalord488]

Hey Mike, my husband William P. went to U of D Mercy with you. He says Hello 👋 from Southfield

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@biancalord488 Hi!! I loved going to U of D, those were the days! Whose your husband? Tell em I said hello!

[@gabrielkardia2607]

Might be moving to Royal Oak soon 👀👀👀

[@MichaelPernaTV]

It’s such a great town, I love living here!

[@JamMaul]

I live there it's called little NYC. But. Don't fool yourself it's only 2 or 3 blocks. After that. There's nothing spectacular if you compare with nyc. But definitely. Great spot for metro Detroit area

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I haven’t heard it called that but agree Royal Oak is one of the best spots in Metro Detroit. What else should I be covering?

[@simonsinistaj1917]

Nobody calls Royal Oak that, stop lying.

[@jasondarwood8225]

Please do Ferndale...if you haven't done it yet.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Hey Jason! It’s on the list and will be done before year end!

[@AskAW]

Your vest must have elastic in it to consume all of that food in one day.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Yeah, I’ve been gaining weight doing these lol

[@SC-gp7kt]

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@SC-gp7kt I’ve bumped up my gym & run regimen significantly - in fact I need to head to Royal Oak Gym on Stevenson ASAP lol

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV You're a more disciplined person than I. Since the shutdown I've gained more than I'd like! When it cools down and my workload eases, my walking starts again and I can't wait!

[@ImReallyGoingUp]

Owl is my go to. Chicken fried chicken 🍗

[@MichaelPernaTV]

The chicken fried chicken is SO GOOD!

[@CARLOTTAZAIREFerguson]

Quick question...looking to relocate from Philly. Is there reliable public transportation in Royal Oak?

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Great Question, Metro Detroit is one of the worst for public transportation. We have the Smart Bus system in the suburbs like Royal Oak, and a couple options downtown Detroit - Qline, Smart Busses, etc. I live in Royal Oak myself and while I love it, I definitely need a car to get around 100%

[@Pantmaster]

Bike lanes are ruining the city. No one even uses them! Still put up with it to go to my favorite gastropub in town: Noir Leather

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Hello Calvin! Thanks for your feedback on Royal Oak. I'll carry that to the mayors office for you. Also anything else you have let me know. Full transparency, I use the bike lanes a couple times a week and have been a blessing. I used to only be able to ride at 5 am, pretty much any other time and I'd get run off the road. I think the couple they've put in have added to the community.

[@xxbannedall3374]

I live close to total oak :DD

[@MichaelPernaTV]

It’s such a great area. Close to everything, great food, people, all of it

[@davidmarks8318]

The parking f sucks.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@davidmarks8318 yeah it does, especially the pulling in backward parking. Ew

[@davidmarks8318]

@@MichaelPernaTV They have lost probably hundreds of thousands of dollars by now because of that loathsome parking

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@davidmarks8318 100% true. I’ve talked with the owners of a lot of those businesses, I always try to support local, and lily’s, cafe Muse, all of them are reporting down sales

[@deltonwilliams2454]

Royal Oaks better than Royal Woods from the loud house you know

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Love Royal Oak! And I've loved living there for the last decade

[@greatdude7645]

The new Griffin apartment complex ruined the look of the city, can’t see the zoo water tower from 696 anymore

[@MichaelPernaTV]

I agree it’s not the most pleasant building. For years developers were working to buy & develop that parcel. It’s not a good look for Royal Oak, but better than some of the alternatives.

[@candknagy5427]

You have to pay for every place to park even on public property I was held up and they try to take my car rite on Main Street Bussiness are moving out because you have to pay for parking before you have to pay to eat and even if you live around downtown if there is something going on they block off the streets and if you live down the street you have to pay for a permit to park on the street in front of there house and they as a city are money hungry

[@MichaelPernaTV]

That's a great reminder, like most downtowns in the area there are parking meters and in Royal Oak specifically their pretty inexpensive compared to other areas. The meters don't start until 11am, most structures give the first 2 hours free. If you live close to downtown and there's a function Royal Oak issues permits to protect the residents at no cost to the resident and will actively tow people trying to take advantage of the residents. Whether it's Royal Oak, Birmingham, or Ferndale, each city has paid for parking - great point. Also I want to address Main Street Businesses. Businesses have been actively moving in for the last three years. I have a client that's been on a waiting list for several years trying to get a space on Main Street, Washington, Lafayette or Troy Street and probably has years to go because not only is no one leaving but new businesses are moving in quickly when they do! The two current empty spaces are the former Andiamo space and former Hop Cat. Both of those closed because they closed 90% of their locations due to financial mismanagement, not parking. Great Comment and questions! I hope I was able to help clear a few things up there!

[@candknagy5427]

@@MichaelPernaTV not talking about that you go on city property like the court house you have to pay the parking any city property you have to and to me that’s wrong

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@candknagy5427 That makes sense, I can appreciate it. When I go to Mark Ridley's in Royal Oak I typically park at the courthouse and pay to park. I don't mind too much because I'm using their property for something fun. I haven't paid when I'm going to the courthouse (to pay tickets funny enough). We're working on a couple more cities, which city or cities do you want to see covered? Don't forget to subscribe!

[@candknagy5427]

@@MichaelPernaTV the property is the people’s property you pay fir that in your Taxs and should not have to pay one cent to park on city property

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@candknagy5427 I see where you’re coming from. If I’m having a night out with friends I don’t mind a few bucks to park in a safe lot for a few hours. The app also is helpful to pay on the go.

[@manuelcampos3525]

Your not mentioning all the blacks that have moved in

[@MichaelPernaTV]

There are a lot of wonderful people from all walks of life that have been attracted to Royal Oak. Because our diversity is our strength 💪 I didn’t mention any one demographic, I believe all have and add value. Who we are in Royal Oak is ALL of us together, not any of us separate. Thank you for the comment, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments.

[@bicgohill8756]

Michigans hillbilly hipster spot.

[@MichaelPernaTV]

We definitely get all kinds in Royal Oak, Hipsters, Hillbillies, young & mature families. You’re right & it’s what makes Royal Oak amazing. It’s diversity & frankly acceptance of diversity. Thanks for recognizing it!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

And great food of course. And the zoo. And, we’ll everything lol

[@SC-gp7kt]

Not really hillbilly......you ever been there?

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@SC-gp7kt you’re not wrong. Living in Royal Oak myself and loving this city I can attest to that!

[@SC-gp7kt]

@@MichaelPernaTV Yes I like RO too, but I wouldn't live there. Too crowded and loud for me.

[@ronnieblaze4847]

Royal Oak SUCKS!

[@MichaelPernaTV]

Thank you for the comment & please subscribe! Which city or cities would you lost like to see covered? Also although I love Royal Oak I agree every city has room for improvement. I’d live to bring g your concerns & feedback to the mayors office, what are you top two or three things Royal Oak is just not nailing?

[@ronnieblaze4847]

@@MichaelPernaTV 1. crooked cops 2. crooked cops 3. crooked cops

[@MichaelPernaTV]

@@ronnieblaze4847 I’ve worked with the Royal Oak police several times when we need to block spaces for events at the office & had a break in in my neighborhood (which turned out wasn’t a break in just a door left open) and have found Royal Oak Police to be courteous, professional & kind. I’d be happy to carry any and all feedback to the department and mayors office. I know their goal is to improve. What are the specifics around the incident? Also I’m happy to talk offline on this - 248-714-0980 - my cell phone